General Electric Company

Joseph Manuel Portaz

Robert August Kaucic

Ali Can

Paulo Ricardo Mendonca

Ralph Gerald Isaacs

Zhaohui Harry Sun

Kristina H Hedengren

Toby George Darkins, Jr

Xiaoming Liu

Patrick Joseph Howard

Douglas S Steele

David W Oliver

Joshua Brian Jamison

Charles Robert Wojciechowski

Rudolph A Koegl

Mahesh Kumar Asati

Manoharan Venugopal

Joseph Czechowski, Iii

Megha Navalgund

George Edward Williams

John Charles Janning

Rajashekar Venkatachalam

John Robert Brehm

John P Keaveney

Theodore W Sippel

Joseph J Sostarich

Henry J Scudder, Iii

Thomas G Kincaid

Matthew Edward Dragovich

James M Brown, Jr

Prakash Mandayam Comare

Richard D Miller

James W Schuler

Larry C Howington

A method and system for nondestructively detecting and quantifying material anomalies within materials, including composite articles. The method entails performing a three-dimensional imaging scan technique, such as a computed tomography scan, of the material and a reference standard such that a test image of the material and a reference image of the reference standard appear in a plurality of two-dimensional scan views generated by the scan technique. The reference images are located in the scan views and normalized to determine at least an average value of the pixel data for the reference images. Values of pixel data of the test image are determined in each scan view, and then compared to the pixel data of the reference images to detect the presence of an anomaly in the test images. The detected anomaly in at least one of the test images of the scan views is then compared to a requirement standard for the material.

Nondestructive inspection method and system

A method for identifying defects in radiographic image data corresponding to a scanned object is provided. The method includes acquiring radiographic image data corresponding to a scanned object. In one embodiment, the radiographic image data includes an inspection test image and a reference image corresponding to the scanned object. The method includes identifying one or more regions of interest in the reference image and aligning the inspection test image with the regions of interest identified in the reference image, to obtain a residual image. The method further includes identifying one or more defects in the inspection test image based upon the residual image and one or more defect probability values computed for one or more pixels in the residual image.

Method and system for identifying defects in radiographic image data corresponding to a scanned object

A method for automatically identifying defects in turbine engine blades is provided. The method comprises acquiring one or more radiographic images corresponding to one or more turbine engine blades and identifying one or more regions of interest from the one or more radiographic images. The method then comprises extracting one or more geometric features based on the one or more regions of interest and analyzing the one or more geometric features to identify one or more defects in the turbine engine blades.

Method for automatic identification of defects in turbine engine blades

An anomaly detection method includes acquiring image data corresponding to nondestructive testing (NDT) of a scanned object. The NDT image data comprises at least one inspection test image of the scanned object and multiple reference images for the scanned object. The anomaly detection method further includes generating an anomaly detection model based on a statistical analysis of one or more image features in the reference images for the scanned object and identifying one or more defects in the inspection test image, based on the anomaly detection model.

Method and system for identifying defects in NDT image data

A method of computed tomographic inspection which uses a Euclidian reference ply model having a corresponding Non-Euclidian ply model which includes reference model plies to extract intensity data from Euclidian slice data (typically having a pixel format) derived from multiple slice X-ray scans using an X-ray scanning system such as the CT system. The multiple slice data is analyzed to determine intensity values for points corresponding to a subject ply of a corresponding reference model ply. The reference model may be a predetermined model such as a mathematically described CAD model file or based on such a CAD model. A preferred method of the present invention includes a transformation of the CAD model data to register the CAD model data to multiple slice data of a standardized object to generate the reference model. Intensity values preferably gray scale pixel values are assigned to points on the reference ply model from the slice data and displayed as a Non-Euclidian image on a monitor.

Computed tomography inspection of composite ply structure

An X-ray inspection system for manually or automatically performing digital fluoroscopy inspections and/or computed tomography inspections by X-ray examination of manufactured parts incorporates a computer system which automatically analyzes the inspected parts for flaws. The system includes apparatus for automatically positioning the parts in an X-ray machine for obtaining fluoroscopy and tomography views of the part and for acquiring data from the inspections at production rates. The system automatically identifies the location of rejectable flaws in the parts during the fluoroscopy scanning and subsequently identifies those locations for obtaining tomography scans, if the identified flaw location is questionable. The system can automatically reject parts containing flaws identified during the fluoroscopy inspections. This system operates in a real-time environment by providing analysis of one part while a subsequent part is being subjected to X-ray examination. The data obtained during each examination is archived and stored for tracking the part in further manufacturing processes.

X-ray inspection system

Growing community of inventors

Hamilton, OH, United States of America

Joseph Manuel Portaz